Cerebellar ataxia associated with anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies

Recent reports describe the detection of high titres of antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD-Ab) in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. (CSF) of patients with cerebellar ataxia. Most of these cases are females with Polyglandular Autoimmune Disorder who develop a chronic cerebellar syndrome. The CSF profile is in keeping with an autoimmune disorder and intrathecal GAD-Ab synthesis has been demonstrated. The ataxia could reverse after immunomodulatory treatments suggesting a possible pathogenetic role for GAD-Ab.